BACKGROUND Although the effectiveness of older antihypertensives (eg, diuretics and [Beta]-blockers) in preventing complications from hypertension has long been established, the effectiveness of newer agents such as calcium-channel blockers has not been demonstrated.

First, regarding her comparison of expensive calcium-channel blockers for hypertension with "over-the counter" diuretics: The diuretics are inexpensive and very effective, but do require a prescription.

Among the drugs that grapefruit is known to affect: calcium-channel blockers like Procardia or Adalat, antihistamines like Seldane, immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, short-acting sedatives like Halcion, and estrogens like Estinyl.

consumers could have saved $20 billion in 2004 by more extensive use of generics in six widely prescribed drug classes (antidepressants, antihyperlipidemics, antihypertensives, calcium-channel blockers, gastrointestinals, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)).

The recent updated British Hypertension Society guidelines7 on blood pressure recommend that calcium-channel blockers or diuretics may be more effective initial therapy for blood pressure in black people or elderly people than ACE inhibitors or b-blockers.

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